tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20014638.post115886653118905310..comments2023-04-13T02:28:50.870-07:00Comments on Post-PhD Shades of Blue <br>(and other colors too): Shades of beige vs. fireArticulateDadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407769773596623808noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20014638.post-1161796953010948782006-10-25T10:22:00.000-07:002006-10-25T10:22:00.000-07:00Oh, well... just the things to read while I'm cont...Oh, well... just the things to read while I'm contemplating the writing of my own letters :)<BR/><BR/>I like this part of your comment above: "I must confess, there is a sense of despair in all this, a feeling that I'm playing a game, whose rules I don't understand, all in an effort to be accorded the favor of an audience."<BR/><BR/>I feel like that too.Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06902911922952429223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20014638.post-1159157216344640712006-09-24T21:06:00.000-07:002006-09-24T21:06:00.000-07:00Thanks, Trillwing. Yes, I guess we're in this toge...Thanks, Trillwing. Yes, I guess we're in this together.<BR/>New Kid, thanks for your remarks. They clarify some of the comments in greater relief, and give me a nice approach for editing and revising. While I think there is merit in Greg's suggestion that I simply plan to write an individual letter for each institution, I need to organize my ideas in a "base letter" even if much of it gets editedArticulateDadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08407769773596623808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20014638.post-1159114064726739992006-09-24T09:07:00.000-07:002006-09-24T09:07:00.000-07:00I agree especially with Ahistoricality's comment. ...I agree especially with Ahistoricality's comment. Instead of saying, "I want an institution that looks like X, if you think you're this I'd love to meet with you," how about pitching it as, "I want to work at your university BECAUSE it looks like X [assuming that X is in fact what the institution looks like, or close to it]"? This still allows you to select for a place that meets your needs - if New Kid on the Hallwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04982506415757771218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20014638.post-1158984684912354702006-09-22T21:11:00.000-07:002006-09-22T21:11:00.000-07:00I really like the coach's question about whether y...I really like the coach's question about whether you want to appear to be what a department wants or whether you can wait for what you desire. That's definitely something to keep in mind as I launch onto the job market. I'm impatient AND not always terribly good at marketing myself. Not good, eh?Leslie M-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02434392840359276805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20014638.post-1158884388580095192006-09-21T17:19:00.000-07:002006-09-21T17:19:00.000-07:00Thanks for your comments too, Greg. I must confess...Thanks for your comments too, Greg. I must confess, there is a sense of despair in all this, a feeling that I'm playing a game, whose rules I don't understand, all in an effort to be accorded the favor of an audience. As you've said, it is a pitiless job market. Finding a way to maintain my own dignity, remain true to my own vision, without seeming callous or insensitive to the needs of my ArticulateDadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08407769773596623808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20014638.post-1158883522419998022006-09-21T17:05:00.000-07:002006-09-21T17:05:00.000-07:00Well, said then, Ahistoricality. It's important fo...Well, said then, <I>Ahistoricality</I>. It's important for me to understand how my voice comes across. Stentorian arson is out. Got it.<BR/><BR/>And, just a little note: my comments here are no way intended to infer that those who have the sort of job I covet are by that status somehow more <I>beige</I> than I. My interest here is to take nothing away from any else, their accomplishments, their ArticulateDadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08407769773596623808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20014638.post-1158883264722159212006-09-21T17:01:00.000-07:002006-09-21T17:01:00.000-07:00I agree totally with the above comment. Aggressiv...I agree totally with the above comment. Aggressive letters have a much higher likelihood of getting tossed.<BR/><BR/>I question the idea of having a base letter at all at this point, especially since your field is so clearly not amenable to generalities. You do not want to be beige or aggressive--you want to explain exactly why you are perfect for *that* place.Greg Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15765114859595124082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20014638.post-1158872986914285172006-09-21T14:09:00.000-07:002006-09-21T14:09:00.000-07:00You don't have to look beige. Heat and light are e...You don't have to look beige. Heat and light are essential. But you also can't look like you're going to set the institution on fire....<BR/><BR/>If you're applying for the job, you need to make an argument that you're a good fit for the institution, rather than what that intro does, which is put the onus on the institution to make itself a good fit for you. If you're not sure about the Ahistoricalityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04004964192885891003noreply@blogger.com